Colin Quinn: Long Story Short (Blu-ray)

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All Rise...

That's Judge Patrick Naugle's story and he's sticking to it.

The Charge

History, from A to Q.

The Case

Come along on a 2,000 year ride as comedian Colin Quinn whisks you through
man's history in Colin Quinn: Long Story Short. Starting with uncivilized
cavemen and working his way through the Renaissance, Rome, Native American
Indians, and the Industrial Revolution, Quinn takes no prisoners as he offers
his views on how much the world has changed but mankind has remained essentially
the same: selfish, brutish, and often times its own worst enemy.

Who knew that Colin Quinn—co-host of MTV's Remote Control and
mildly entertaining Weekend Update news anchor on Saturday Night Live—was a smart and observant
comedian? And not just smart, but academically smart. Colin Quinn:
Long Story Short is more than just a stand-up routine, it's a virtual
history lesson squeezed into 75 minutes. No easy feat for a man who once asked
contestants inane questions on an ADD-riddled game show.

Colin Quinn is not a household name. The raspy voiced comedian has drifted
in and out of the public eye, over the last few decades, never experiencing the
breakout success of his many peers. With Colin Quinn: Long Story Short
the acerbic comedian is able to show off his storytelling chops without the
confines of network television. Directed for the stage by Jerry Seinfeld (yes,
THAT Jerry Seinfeld), the show is an amusing romp through history that is often
gut busting, occasionally insightful, momentarily lost in its own history, and
ultimately a worthwhile ride for fans with above average intelligence.

Quinn's show is set up much like a regular stand-up special, except this is
more of a history lesson peppered with jokes. Quinn bounces back and forth from
early man to Jersey Shore and
everything in between. At times, the history can come off as slightly
cumbersome, with moments that feels like he's desperately trying to squeeze in
as much information as he can. On the other hand, the show feels fresh because
the concept is decidedly unique; I don't think I've ever seen a comedian
(especially one like Quinn) attempt to make the past come alive in such a silly
way.

Quinn himself is a clever guy, but I've always had an issue with him as a
performer. He often seems uneasy on the stage, almost like his material is only
95% rehearsed, stumbling on his words and seeming momentarily lost in his own
thoughts. Then again, this may be part of his act to come off as an everyman.
Seinfeld's direction is pretty simple, without much flash—the set is just
stone stairs and a screen that shows various images relating to whatever Quinn
is talking about. Interestingly, the packaging really touts Jerry's name, but in
the end the direction made little difference.

Clocking in at 75 minutes, Colin Quinn: Long Story Short never wears
out its welcome. It's a lot of fun and something different, which is saying a
lot since most stand-up specials reek of that "been there, done that"
smell.

Presented in 1.78:1/1080i high definition widescreen, Colin Quinn: Long
Story Short (Blu-ray) is a surprisingly nice transfer from VSC, sporting a
deep array of colors and depth, even though the bulk of the show is just one man
walking around on stage. The soundtrack is a serviceable LPCM 2.0 mix; nothing
spectacular, just Quinn's voice and some musical interludes. The side and rear
speakers are engaged a few times, but it's a front heavy track. No subtitles or
language tracks.

Bonus features include a commentary track from Quinn and Seinfeld, each
joking around and trading funny one-liners. We also get some behind the scenes
footage of Seinfeld directing Quinn on stage, and "Press Event
Footage" of Anderson Cooper interviewing Quinn and Seinfeld.

Colin Quinn: Long Story Short may not be the funniest special ever
recorded, but it's got a lot of moxie and chutzpah to take on the whole of
mankind in one single outing. For that, Quinn deserves props.